Chickasaw County, Mississippi Natural Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index assessment · MS
LowComposite Risk Score
National percentile: 44th
Chickasaw County faces low composite natural disaster risk (NRI Risk Index score 43.9, 44th national percentile), driven primarily by strong wind and earthquake exposure. Expected annual loss across all 18 hazard types is $10M.
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 · Updated December 2025
Risk Overview
Chickasaw County carries a low composite natural disaster risk, with a National Risk Index score of 43.9 out of 100 — placing it in the 44th national percentile and below the national average for natural-disaster risk. The score blends Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across all 18 FEMA hazard types.
The county's risk is driven primarily by strong wind (damaging straight-line winds outside of tornadoes and hurricanes) at High risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 1.99 events per year; earthquake (ground shaking from sudden movement along geologic faults) at Low risk — $1M in expected annual loss and about 0.00 events per year; and drought (extended dry periods that stress water supplies and agriculture) at Medium risk — $578K in expected annual loss and about 15.38 events per year. Across all hazards, FEMA estimates $10M in expected annual loss for a population of 17K.
Beyond physical exposure, Chickasaw County has a very high social vulnerability rating (how susceptible the population is to harm) and a low community resilience rating (its capacity to prepare for and recover from disasters). That combination — a more vulnerable population with limited resilience — can amplify the human cost of any given event.
The federal record bears this out: Chickasaw County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1973, including 11 for severe storm events and 5 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm (winter storm), declared in February 2026.
Among 82 Mississippi counties, Chickasaw County ranks #49 for overall natural disaster risk.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Risks
| Strong Wind | High | 1.99 / yr | $1M |
| Earthquake | Low | 0.00 / yr | $1M |
| Drought | Medium | 15.38 / yr | $578K |
| Tornado | Medium | 0.43 / yr | $2M |
| Hurricane | Low | 0.06 / yr | $327K |
| Heat Wave | Low | 16.84 / yr | $539K |
| Cold Wave | Medium | 1.11 / yr | $1M |
| Lightning | Low | 66.03 / yr | $197K |
| Ice Storm | Low | 0.95 / yr | $61K |
| Hail | Low | 3.35 / yr | $115K |
| Landslide | Very Low | 0.22 / yr | $293 |
| Wildfire | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $10K |
| Riverine Flood | Very Low | 0.46 / yr | $2M |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | 3.79 / yr | $5K |
| Avalanche | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Coastal Flood | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Tsunami | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | 0.00 / yr | $0 |
Disaster History
Chickasaw County has received 23 federal disaster declarations since 1973, most recently Severe Winter Storm in February 2026. Most frequent causes: Severe Storm (11), Hurricane (5), Winter Storm (2).
| Declared | Type | Disaster |
|---|---|---|
| February 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| January 2026 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| October 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| August 2021 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ida |
| April 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 2020 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| March 2020 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| December 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| April 2019 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Showing the 10 most recent of 23 declarations.
Source: FEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (OpenFEMA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the overall natural disaster risk for Chickasaw County?
Chickasaw County has a composite FEMA National Risk Index score of 43.9 out of 100, placing it in the Low category and the 44th national percentile. This combines Expected Annual Loss, Social Vulnerability, and Community Resilience across 18 hazard types.
What are the top natural hazards in Chickasaw County?
The three highest-rated hazards are Strong Wind (High, $1M EAL), Earthquake (Low, $1M EAL), Drought (Medium, $578K EAL). These account for most of the county's expected annual losses.
How does Chickasaw County compare to other Mississippi counties?
Chickasaw County ranks #49 of 82 Mississippi counties for overall natural disaster risk, with a low rating.
How many federally declared disasters has Chickasaw County had?
FEMA records 23 federal disaster declarations for Chickasaw County since 1973, most often 11 for severe storm events and 5 for hurricane events. The most recent was Severe Winter Storm, declared in February 2026.
What does Expected Annual Loss (EAL) mean?
EAL is FEMA's estimate of average annual dollar losses from natural hazards, calculated from historical event data and exposure models. Chickasaw County's $10M EAL is a statistical average, not a guarantee for any specific year or address.